Brick machine



Feb. 17, 1931. H 'M 1,793,216

BRICK MACHINE Filed April 12, 1930 A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMBERTQM. FENATI, NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA BRICK MACHINE Application filed April 12,

ular material as sand, during manufacture.

In the modern manufacture of building units of this kind a rectangular column or bar of clay is projected or extruded horizontally through and beyond a forming die, after which it is cut'or severed transversely into the individual units andjcarried'a'w'ay for further treatment, as for burning Various means have'been utilized'for applying to the surfaceof the advancing clay bar a covering or coating finish by application thereto of sand or thelike, as by distributing such granular material Over and around the bar, with pressure thereof into its surface at the point of final discharge, by action of the surrounding walls. One difiiculty encoun- V tered however'has been to completely cover all four sides of the column, and particularly the underside, due to absence or irregularity of any sufiiciently efi'ective pressing or regularly impregnating means. a M Y In my invention I provide a reciprocable pusher, so constructed and arranged underneath the bar or column that it will regularly and e'iiic'iently push the body of sand forwardly and upwardly, positively bringing it intocontact with the bar and insuring regular and continuous application I thereto prior to emission from the surrounding casing.

One preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the active portion of a brick making machine,

inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section showing my invention;

V Fig 2'is a horizontal section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line III-+111 of Fig. 1. V

In a machine of the kind involved a continuous column or bar 2 of plastic'clay is forced or'extruded'outwardly from the discharge nozzle 3 of a brick machine, of well known construction. The bar 2 is forced forwardly through die 3 by suitable plunger mechanism, not shown, by which the clay is 1830. Serial N0. 143,853.

closely compressed at top, bottom, and the opposite sides, the column then slightly expanding and passing finally through the terminal limiting die4 of casing 5.

'Said casing as shown extends forwardly beyond the die 3, being secured to it and the surrounding framing, as at 6,'in any suitable manner. Casing 5 is sufliciently large to provide between its walls and'the advancing bar 2 a surrounding receiving cavity of sand or other granular covering material as shown. Such sand is delivered downwardly to the space from any suitable receiving or storage hopper 7 by gravity, and is usually in a dry, clean condition.

Barriers or partitions Sextend inwardly from the walls of casing, 5 at top, bottom and sides, terminating closely adjacent to the surfaces of the advancing bar, thereby pre venting the backward spreading of the sand toward the exit die 3. The lower barrier 8 is preferably provided with asupplemental forward extension 9, tending to further pro tect the bar, and also acting as a protecting coping for the actuating crank mechanism for the pusher, hereinafter described.

A conveyor belt 10 mounted on pulley 11 of shaft 12 is arranged underneath the extruded bar for support thereof in transporting it towardthe severing means Forthe purposes of effecting the objects of the present invention, I provide a pusher A in the form of a reciprocable slab or plate of metal extending forwardly and upwardly over the lower wall of casing?) and movable thereon forwardly and backwardly'. Pusher A as shown is preferably of a suiiicient width to extend by its rear portion at least coextensive with the width of bar 2, and is provided withan actuating crank shaft 13.

Crank 13 is mounted by its off-set journals 14 in bearings 15 of easing 5 and is connected by partly-embracing bearing straps 16 and 17 with pusher A. 7 Such strap connections 01 semi-bearings are so connected as to engage the crank in either direction of movement, leaving a portion of the crank exposed so as to avoid congestion of sand with resulting cutting or friction.

The forward portion of pusher A is ser rated by a series of tooth-like projections 18 sloping upwardly and forwardly. As shown, the opposite sides are preferably in duplicate formation, allowing for reversal of the pusher in case of wear.

Such projections also slope forwardly and outwardly at the front from the longitudi nal center of the pusher as shown in F 2, thereby tending to converge the sand from each side constantly toward the middle portion of the bar. The length of the projections also decrease inwardly at each side toward the front, and the oppositely inclined series are serrated or toothed at their side terminals as at 19, thereby tending to continuously and positively engage the sand at each forward movement.

The crank 13 is alternately actuated by means of a terminal lever 20 and connecting rod 21 of crank disk 22.

The latter is geared in any suitable manner, as by pinion 23 and gear Qt, with the driving or driven shaft 12 of pulley 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

As thus constructed the pusher A will be actuated during operation of the machine, forcing the sand constantly and continuously upwardly and forwardly against the under side of the bar, the entire upper portion being surrounded by the copious sand supply discharged from the hopper 7.

By such action the entire four surfaces of the bar 2 are positively supplied with sand which is then pressed into its surfaces by the terminal 4 of the casing as the bar emerges. Thereafter, upon severing the bar into individual units or bricks, the edges of the resulting brick which are ordinarily exposed in a building, are completely covered wit-h the sand which becomes fixedly attached by the burning operation in the kiln.

The construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, and it may be utilized in connection with the formation of bars of plastic material, as clay, either in the manufacture of bricks or similar units, or as otherwise adapted.

The invention may be changed or modified by the skilled mechanic in various features or detail construction to adapt it to special conditions, but all such changes are to be understood as within the scope of the following claims.

hat I claim is:

1. In a brick machine having an extruding die and a surrounding casing in advance thereof, a reciprocable pusher within the casing and below the path of an extruded prod not.

2. In a brick machine having an extruding die and a surrounding sand casing in advance thereof, a reciprocable pusher operable below the path of an extruded product having series of pushing teeth.

3. In a brick machine having an extruding die and a surrounding sand casing in advance thereof, a reciprocable pusher operable below the path of an extruded product in an alternating forwardly and upwardly direction.

4. In a. brick machine, the combination with an extruding die and a sand casing, of a reciprocable pusher longitudinally movable along the wall of the casing.

5. In a brick machine, the combination with an extruding die and a sand casing having a lower inclined wall, of a. reciprocable pusher longitudinally movable along the lower wall of the casing.

6. In a brick machine, the combination with an extruding die and a sand casing having a lower inclined wall, of a reciprocable pusher longitudinally movable along the lower wall of the casing provided with outwardly diverging edges.

7. In a brick machine, the combination with an extruding die and a sand casing having a lower inclined wall, of a reciprocable pusher longitudinally movable along the lower wall of the casing provided with a series of pushing edges.

8. In a brick machine, the combination with an extruding die and a sand casing having a lower inclined wall, of a reciprocable pusher longitudinally movable along the lower wall of the casing provided with opposite inwardly inclined series of sand engaging projections.

9. In a brick machine, the combination with an extruding die and a sand casing having a lower inclined wall, of a reciprocable pusher longitudinally movable along the lower wall of the casing provided with inwardly converging front edges, an upper shouldered face, and forwardly and inwardly disposed toothed edges.

10. In a brick machine, the combination with an extruding die and a sand casing having a lower inclined wall, of a reciproca-ble pusher longitudinally movable along the lower wall of the casing, means for actuating the pusher, and protecting walls surrounding the extruding die rearwardly of the pusher.

11. In combination, an extruding die having a sand enclosing casing in advance thereof provided with an exit opening, a re ciprocable pusher supported on the lower wall of the casing, a transversely arranged actuating crank engaging the pusher, and means for imparting movement to the crank.

12. In combination, an extruding die having a sand enclosing casing in advance there of provided with an exit opening, a reciprocable pusher supported on the lower wall of the casing, a transversely arranged actuating crank engaging the pusher a bar supporting belt and driving means therefor, and means connected therewith for imparting movement to the crank.

length backwardly and terminating in pushing points with intervening V-shaped spaces along its opposite edges, and provided at its rear edge with a plurality of crank engaging bearings.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

' HUMBERT M. FENATI. 

